Aeration device for a bioprocessing installation

Abstract

Various embodiments relate to an aeration device for a bioprocessing installation, in particular a bioreactor, comprising a housing, wherein the housing comprises one or more aeration channels in its interior, wherein the housing further comprises one or more gas inlet ports, via each of which a gas can be introduced into at least one aeration channel of the housing, and wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of gas outlet ports, via each of which the gas can be discharged from the respective aeration channel to the outside of the aeration device. It is proposed that the aeration device is configurable with respect to a predetermined discharge of gas via the gas outlet ports.

1 . An aeration device for a bioprocessing installation, comprising a housing,
 wherein the housing comprises one or more aeration channels in its interior, wherein the housing further comprises one or more gas inlet ports, via each of which a gas can be introduced into at least one aeration channel of the housing, and wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of gas outlet ports, via each of which the gas can be discharged from the respective aeration channel to the outside of the aeration device,   wherein the aeration device is configurable with respect to a predetermined discharge of gas via the gas outlet ports.   
     
     
         2 . The aeration device according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas outlet ports are provided in the form of a first type of gas outlet ports which consists of gas outlet ports having an discharge opening with a diameter larger than 0.2 mm, and/or a cross-sectional area larger than 0.03 mm 2 , and/or in the form of a second type of gas outlet ports which consists of gas outlet ports having an discharge opening with a diameter of at most 0.2 mm, and/or a cross-sectional area of at most 0.03 mm 2 . 
     
     
         3 . The aeration device according to  claim 1 , wherein the aeration device has an adjusting mechanism, and is configurable with respect to a predetermined discharge of gas via the gas outlet ports in that, by the adjusting mechanism, the discharge of gas via the gas outlet ports is adjustable. 
     
     
         4 . The aeration device according to  claim 3 , wherein the adjusting mechanism comprises a movable closing element for releasing and for blocking, at least partly a fluid communication of one or more aeration channels of the housing to the outside of the aeration device. 
     
     
         5 . The aeration device according to  claim 4 , wherein the closing element forms an upper cover of the housing and/or is arranged, in relation to the flow direction of the gas, downstream of the respective one or more aeration channels and/or gas outlet ports, and/or, in that the closing element is a rotary slider or linear slider, and/or, in that the closing element is movable around or along a geometrical axis which runs parallel or transversely to the rising direction of the gas bubbles, and/or, in that the closing element is disk shaped. 
     
     
         6 . The aeration device according to  claim 5 , wherein the closing element comprises one or more closing element openings which, for releasing, at least partly the fluid communication of one or more aeration channels of the housing to the outside of the aeration device, can each be brought at least in partial overlap with at least one discharge opening, and/or, which, for completely blocking the fluid communication of one or more aeration channels of the housing to the outside of the aeration device, can each be positioned completely offset to at least one discharge opening. 
     
     
         7 . The aeration device according to  claim 4 , wherein the closing element is arranged to release and to block, at least partly a fluid communication of one or more, but not all, aeration channels of the housing to the outside of the aeration device, and to not affect a fluid communication of one or more other aeration channels of the housing to the outside of the aeration device. 
     
     
         8 . The aeration device according to  claim 7 , wherein the one or more aeration channels, the fluid communication of which to the outside of the aeration device can be released and blocked by the closing element, are in fluid communication with and/or can be brought into fluid communication with only one type of gas outlet ports, or with both the first type and the second type of gas outlet ports,
 and/or, in that the one or more other aeration channels, the fluid communication of which to the outside of the aeration device cannot be affected by the closing element, are in permanent fluid communication with only one type of gas outlet ports, the fluid communication of which to the outside of the aeration device can be released and blocked by the closing element.   
     
     
         9 . The aeration device according to  claim 4 , wherein in that in one adjusting position of the closing element it releases other gas outlet ports than in another adjusting position of the closing element, and/or, in that in one adjusting position of the closing element it blocks other gas outlet ports than in another adjusting position of the closing element. 
     
     
         10 . The aeration device according to  claim 4 , wherein in one adjusting position of the closing element it releases the respective gas outlet ports each to another extent than in another adjusting position of the closing element. 
     
     
         11 . The aeration device according to  claim 4 , wherein in one adjusting position of the closing element, it releases discharge openings which are associated with one or more other aeration channels than in another adjusting position of the closing element. 
     
     
         12 . The aeration device according to  claim 3 , wherein the adjusting mechanism comprises a movable closing element for releasing and for blocking, at least partly a fluid communication of one or more gas inlet ports of the housing to one or more aeration channels of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The aeration device according to  claim 12 , wherein the closing element forms a lower cover of the housing and/or is arranged, in relation to the flow direction of the gas, upstream of the respective one or more aeration channels, and/or, in that the closing element is a rotary slider or linear slider, and/or, in that the closing element is movable around or along a geometrical axis which runs parallel or transversely to the rising direction of the gas bubbles, and/or, in that the closing element is disk shaped. 
     
     
         14 . The aeration device according to  claim 12 , wherein the closing element comprises one or more closing element openings which, for releasing, at least partly the fluid communication of one or more gas inlet ports of the housing to one or more aeration channels of the housing, can each be brought at least in partial overlap with at least one inlet opening of at least one aeration channel, and/or, which, for completely blocking the fluid communication of one or more gas inlet ports of the housing to one or more aeration channels of the housing, can each be positioned completely offset to at least one inlet opening of at least one aeration channel. 
     
     
         15 . The aeration device according to  claim 12 , wherein the closing element is arranged to release and to block, at least partly a fluid communication to one or more, but not all, aeration channels of the housing, and to not affect a fluid communication to one or more other aeration channels of the housing, and/or, in that the closing element is arranged to release and to block, at least partly a fluid communication of one or more, but not all, gas inlet ports of the housing to one or more aeration channels of the housing, and to not affect a fluid communication of one or more other gas inlet ports of the housing to one or more aeration channels of the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The aeration device according to  claim 15 , wherein the one or more aeration channels, the fluid communication to which can be released and blocked by the closing element, are in fluid communication with and/or can be brought into fluid communication with only one type of gas outlet ports, or with both the first type and the second type of gas outlet ports,
 and/or, in that the one or more other aeration channels, the fluid communication to which cannot be affected by the closing element, are in permanent fluid communication with only one type of gas outlet ports, the fluid communication to which can be released and blocked by the closing element.   
     
     
         17 . The aeration device according to  claim 12 , wherein in one adjusting position of the closing element it releases other inlet openings than in another adjusting position of the closing element, and/or, in that in one adjusting position of the closing element it blocks other inlet openings than in another adjusting position of the closing element. 
     
     
         18 . The aeration device according to  claim 12 , wherein in one adjusting position of the closing element it releases the respective inlet openings each to another extent than in another adjusting position of the closing element. 
     
     
         19 . The aeration device according to  claim 12 , wherein the gas inlet ports, from which a fluid communication to one or more aeration channels of the housing can be released and blocked, are arranged on the closing element and are movable with it relative to the aeration channel or channels and/or inlet openings of the aeration channel or channels. 
     
     
         20 . The aeration device according to  claim 3 , wherein for configuration of the aeration device with respect to a predetermined discharge of gas via the gas outlet ports, the adjusting mechanism is configured to be controlled by an electronic control unit of the bioprocessing installation provided for at least partial control of the bioprocessing installation. 
     
     
         21 . The aeration device according to  claim 1 , wherein the aeration device is configurable in that at least one housing part of the housing, which has properties influencing the discharge of gas via the gas outlet ports, is detachably connected to the remainder of the housing in such a way that the housing part can be replaced by another housing part which has different properties influencing the discharge of gas via the gas outlet ports. 
     
     
         22 . The aeration device according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least one housing part is detachably connected to the remainder of the housing by a positive connection and/or non-positive connection, in particular a snap connection or plug connection. 
     
     
         23 . The aeration device according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least one housing part which is detachably connected to the remainder of the housing, forms one or more gas outlet ports of the housing and/or at least a section of one or more aeration channels of the housing. 
     
     
         24 . The aeration device according to  claim 23 , wherein one or more other aeration channels of the housing are formed in its entirety by the remainder of the housing. 
     
     
         25 . The aeration device according to  claim 2 , wherein a respective one of the gas inlet ports of the housing is assigned to each housing part which is detachably connected to the remainder of the housing. 
     
     
         26 . The aeration device according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one housing part forms an upper part of the housing and is arranged, in relation to the flow direction of the gas, downstream of the respective one or more aeration channels and/or inlet openings of the one or more aeration channels. 
     
     
         27 . The aeration device according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least one housing part establishes a permanent fluid communication of the respective aeration channel to the outside of the aeration device. 
     
     
         28 . The aeration device according to  claim 23 , wherein the gas outlet ports formed by the at least one housing part are gas outlet ports of only one type of gas outlet ports,
 and/or, in that the one or more other aeration channels which are formed in its entirety by the remainder of the housing, are in permanent fluid communication with only one type of gas outlet ports.   
     
     
         29 . An aeration device for a bioprocessing installation comprising a housing,
 wherein the housing comprises one or more aeration channels in its interior,   wherein the housing further comprises one or more gas inlet ports, via each of which a gas can be introduced into at least one aeration channel of the housing, and   wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of gas outlet ports, via each of which the gas can be discharged from the respective aeration channel to the outside of the aeration device,   wherein   the surface on the inside of one or more gas outlet ports of the housing and/or of at least a section of one or more aeration channels of the housing, of a section defining at least the upper boundary and optionally one or both lateral boundaries of the respective aeration channel, is provided, at least partly with a coating or insert wherein the coating or insert protrudes from the housing to form a projection.   
     
     
         30 . An aeration device for a bioprocessing installation, comprising a housing,
 wherein the housing comprises one or more aeration channels in its interior,   wherein the housing further comprises one or more gas inlet ports, via each of which a gas can be introduced into at least one aeration channel of the housing, and   wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of gas outlet ports, via each of which the gas can be discharged from the respective aeration channel to the outside of the aeration device,   wherein for one or more aeration channels of the housing a membrane and/or a filter material is arranged between the respective aeration channel and one or more gas outlet ports of the housing and/or is arranged inside one or more gas outlet ports of the housing, such that the gas can be discharged from the respective aeration channel through the membrane and/or filter material to the outside of the aeration device.   
     
     
         31 . An aeration device for a bioprocessing installation, comprising a housing,
 wherein the housing comprises one or more aeration channels in its interior,   wherein the housing further comprises one or more gas inlet ports, via each of which a gas can be introduced into at least one aeration channel of the housing, and   wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of gas outlet ports, via each of which the gas can be discharged from the respective aeration channel to the outside of the aeration device,   wherein one or more aeration channels of the housing are bordered at the top by a membrane made of a flexible material and in that the membrane forms one or more gas outlet ports of the housing, wherein, due to the flexibility of the material of the membrane, the size of the cross-sectional area of the gas outlet ports formed by the membrane changes depending on the gas pressure in the respective aeration channel.   
     
     
         32 . An aeration device for a bioprocessing installation,
 wherein the housing comprises one or more aeration channels in its interior,   wherein the housing further comprises one or more gas inlet ports, via each of which a gas can be introduced into at least one aeration channel of the housing, and   wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of gas outlet ports, via each of which the gas can be discharged from the respective aeration channel to the outside of the aeration device,   wherein at least some, in particular all, of the gas outlet ports of a respective one of the aeration channels are non-uniform, or the group of gas outlet ports of a respective one of the aeration channels is non-uniform, and/or in that the shape of the cross-sectional area of at least some of the gas outlet ports of at least one of the aeration channels is not circular.   
     
     
         33 . A bioprocessing installation, comprising a container, in which a liquid biological medium consisting of the substances intended for a biotechnological process can be accommodated, further comprising an aeration device according to  claim 1 .